The Saudi sports community is eagerly awaiting the official announcement from Greek coach Giorgos Donis, the head coach of the Saudi national football team, in the coming hours. This announcement will finalize the Saudi squad for the 2026 World Cup . The anticipation stems from the expected decision to cut five players from the current preliminary list of 31, in order to reduce the number to comply with FIFA regulations, which stipulate that the final squad for each participating team must be between 23 and 26 players.
Battle for the bottom spots in the Green Falcons' lineup
Selecting the final squad presents a significant challenge for any coach, especially given the players' similar skill levels and their shared desire to represent their country at the world's biggest football tournament. The current Saudi national team roster includes a constellation of the Kingdom's most prominent stars: Mohammed Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Ahmed Al-Kassar, Abdulquddus Attia, Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, Abdulilah Al-Amri, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Jihad Zikri, Ali Lajami, Hassan Kadash, Saud Abdulhamid, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Ali Majrashi, Mutaib Al-Harbi, Nawaf Boushal, Zakaria Hawsawi, Mohammed Kanno, Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Ziyad Al-Juhani, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwair, Alaa Al-Hajji, Salem Al-Dawsari, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ayman Yahya, Sultan Mandash, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, Firas Al-Buraikan, Abdullah Al-Salem, Saleh Al-Shehri, and Abdullah Al-Hamdan. Donis will face difficult decisions regarding which players will be dropped from the training camp before the official squad list is submitted.
From World Cup memories to 2026 ambitions
The Saudi national team boasts a rich history in the World Cup finals. Their first World Cup journey began in the United States in 1994, a participation still etched in the memories of fans after the "Green Falcons" achieved a historic feat by reaching the Round of 16. Despite varying results in subsequent appearances, the 2022 Qatar World Cup witnessed a new chapter of glory with a historic and resounding victory over Argentina, the eventual champions. This triumph raised expectations significantly, leading Saudi fans to anticipate an exceptional performance in the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will feature 48 teams for the first time. This places a considerable responsibility on the coaching staff and the players selected to fulfill the fans' aspirations.
America camp: The final stop before announcing the Saudi national team's World Cup squad
The Saudi national team is currently undergoing the second phase of its training program in Austin, Texas, USA. This camp is considered the final real test for the players before the final squad is determined. Coach Donis is working during this camp to address the technical errors that surfaced in the friendly match against Ecuador, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Green Falcons. Following the match, star player Sultan Mandash confirmed that the players are striving to implement the coach's new tactical ideas, which are tailored to the scale and intensity of the World Cup competition. Mandash explained that his goal was the result of understanding and execution of tactical instructions, reflecting the harmony the coaching staff is working to foster. The upcoming friendly match against Puerto Rico next Saturday will be the players' last opportunity to prove their worth before the final decision is made.
